Jul 26, 2016 | By Alec
Kickstarter has played in crucial role in the success story of the 3D printing community, but the crowdfunding platform itself also benefitted from some early high profile campaigns involving 3D printing that really raised Kickstarter awareness. Among them was the 3D printed Glif smartphone tripod mount, which launched just 18 months after Kickstarter launched itself. That mount was designed by NYC-based Studio Neat, who have now returned to Kickstarter with a second generation Glif six years after the first. Again prototyped through 3D printing, this new and improved mount is already on course to repeat its predecessor’s crowdfunding successes.
The reason why the original Glif (hitting Kickstarter in 2010) was so successful, is because it was a significant step on the road to making smartphones legitimate and respected cameras. But it was also a very innovative tripod mount design that really appealed to a lot of people. At the time, it raised over $137,000 and helped Studio Neat to become a successful business.
Since then, the company released several updates to the Glif, but have now reached a point where it’s time for a completely new product. As the company explained, this was the logical result of the changing smartphone photography landscape. “With each successive smartphone, the camera is getting more and more incredible. The smartphone has become a legitimate tool, for photographers, filmmakers, and mobile journalists. So our goal is simple: to create the best tripod mount for smartphones, period,” they say.
But like its predecessor, it has been thoroughly prototyped through 3D printing, resulting in a gorgeous and deceptively simple – but multifunctional – result. The clamp itself relies on a spring-loaded mechanism, with foam padding protecting your smartphone. Easily locking in place, it ensures a firm grip. While it sounds simple, the designers argue that most spring mounts feature a flimsy, insecure grip, while a more reliable screw mount is cumbersome to operate. “We wanted to create a mount that is the best of both. The quick release lever, when opened, allows the jaws to move freely, making it easy to quickly load or remove your device. Here is the clever bit: when you close the lever, it automatically tightens around your device, resulting in a super secure connection,” they say.
What’s more, it has been upgraded in size to accommodate larger smartphones. As a result, the new and improved Glip can hold any device with a width between the 58mm (2.25") to 99mm (3.9") (including a case) – which covers the majority of smartphones still in production.
But more importantly, the new Glip is also multifunctional thanks to no less than three tripod mounting points – all relying on the same mechanism. This makes the device suitable for a number of applications, including portrait and landscape orientations. “With things like panoramic photos, Periscope streams, and Snapchat, smartphones have legitimized the once-smirked-at portrait orientation,” the company says. The different mounts can also be used to hold accessories, like a microphone or light, to create a proper filming setup.
And that, in a nutshell, is what Studio Neat hopes to turn the Glif into: the start of a mobile rig that can be used for whatever you want. They have therefore also added a hand grip accessory for freehand shooting (made from excellent and solid cherry hardwood) and a wrist strap made from durable paracord. And with the full set costing just $50 ($25 for a basic Glif), that will certainly be the cheapest mobile rig you’ll find.
But if you’re thinking that you don’t want to pay that kind of money for a 3D printed setup, you can rest assured. While 3D printing was extensively used during prototyping and all photos visible above were shot using 3D printed prototypes, the final parts shipped to you will be injection molded for a much a cleaner finish. If you’re interested, head over to Kickstarter here. The campaign, which has already gathered nearly three times more than its target pledge, will run until the 20th of August.
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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